Man convicted in ‘homicide by heart attack' case

November 09, 2006|Tribune Staff Report

SOUTH BEND — A judge today found a South Bend man guilty of felony aggravated battery for his role in the death of another man during a 2005 street fight. Charles E. Jackson, 52, was convicted of severely beating Dick E. Priebe Jr. during a tussle between the two men in the 400 block of East St. Vincent Street, a case described by a pathologist as “homicide by heart attack.” Priebe, 47, died shortly after the pummeling. The pathologist ruled injuries from the fight combined with a complex array of pre-existing physical conditions to cause Priebe's death. At the time of his death, Priebe had an enlarged heart, clogged arteries, traces of cocaine in his system and an alcohol level more than three times the legal limit. Because there was no evidence to suggest Jackson meant to kill Priebe, prosecutors stayed away from murder charges. The ruling by St. Joseph Superior Court Judge John M. Marnocha came two weeks after a two-hour bench trial. Jackson will be sentenced Nov. 30. He faces between six and 20 years. Read more about the case in Friday's Tribune.